Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Memo Rodriguez ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign. Prior to joining Sporting, Rodriguez scored 34 goals in 227 professional club appearances since joining Houston Dynamo FC as a homegrown player in late 2014. He spent seven MLS seasons in Houston, notably winning the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, prior to representing both LA Galaxy and Austin FC in 2023.
Born in Wharton, Texas, and raised in nearby El Campo, Rodriguez entered the Houston Dynamo Academy in 2011. He was named its Academy Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 before launching his MLS career at age 18, inking a Homegrown Player deal with the Dynamo ahead of the 2015 season. He spent most of his debut campaign on loan with the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship before joining the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, Houston’s then-USL affiliate, for a breakout 2016 season. Rodriguez rejoined Houston in 2017 and made his MLS debut on April 8, 2017. In 2018, Rodriguez and Houston collected silverware as champions of the prestigious U.S. Open Cup before being named the Dynamo Young Player of the Year in 2019.
The Galaxy signed Rodriguez as a free agent in January 2023. He scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 3-2 road win over Real Salt Lake on May 31 before moving to Austin FC in a trade on Aug. 1. He played nine MLS matches for Austin and finished the year with 21 league appearances, notching one goal and two assists.
PROFESSIONAL
2024: Signed with Sporting KC as a free agent on Feb. 1. Made 30 appearances across all competitions, tallying two goals and six assists. MLS Regular Season: Started 18 of 26 appearances in the regular season, tallying all eight of his goal contributions and led the team with six assists. Recorded his first assist for the club in the 2-1 home win over San Jose on March 16 before adding further assists throughout the spring against the Portland Timbers (April 7), Houston Dynamo (May 11) and at Austin FC (May 18). Scored his first goal for the club in the 2-1 road loss to the Portland Timbers on May 25. Added another assist in the 4-3 home loss to Real Salt Lake on June 19 before producing a match-winning performance with the winning goal and an assist in the 3-2 home win over FC Dallas on July 7. Open Cup: Made four appearances, all as a substitute, including an extra-time cameo in the Open Cup Final on Sept. 25. Leagues Cup: Did not feature.
LA Galaxy & Austin FC (2023):
The Galaxy signed Rodriguez as a free agent in January 2023. He scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 3-2 road win over Real Salt Lake on May 31 before moving to Austin FC in a trade on Aug. 1. He played nine MLS matches for Austin and finished the year with 21 league appearances, notching one goal and two assists.
Houston Dynamo FC (2017-2022):
Rodriguez rejoined Houston in 2017 and made his MLS debut on April 8, 2017, becoming the first Dynamo academy product to play at all three levels of the club's developmental pyramid. He opened his MLS scoring account in a 3-1 home win over CF Montreal on July 5, 2017, and later that year helped Houston reach the Western Conference finals for the first time since falling to Sporting in 2013.
In 2018, Rodriguez and Houston collected silverware as champions of the prestigious U.S. Open Cup. He was instrumental in the team’s tournament run, tallying three goals and one assist as the Dynamo hoisted the Open Cup for the first time. Rodriguez then enjoyed a standout 2019 campaign, hitting MLS career-highs with seven goals and five assists—including a stretch of four goals in three games at the beginning of the season—while also debuting in the Concacaf Champions League and earning Dynamo Young Player of the Year honors.
Rodriguez cemented his place as a regular contributor in Houston’s midfield from 2020-2022, appearing in 82 of the club’s 91 regular season matches during that span and eclipsing 30 MLS appearances in 2021 and 2022. He notably left his mark at the MLS is Back Tournament by scoring twice in the opening half-hour of a wild 3-3 draw against LAFC on July 13, 2020, three months before extending his contract at Houston through 2022.
Rio Grande Valley FC (2016):
Rodriguez moved to Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, Houston’s then-USL affiliate, for a breakout 2016 season. The versatile midfielder had six goals and seven assists in leading the Toros to the USL Playoffs under head coach Wilmer Cabrera.
Houston Dynamo FC & Charleston Battery (2015):
Signed a Homegrown Player deal with the Dynamo ahead of the 2015 season. He spent most of his debut campaign on loan with the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship, where he had one goal and one assist in 17 games.
YOUTH
Born in Wharton, Texas, and raised in nearby El Campo, Rodriguez entered the Houston Dynamo Academy in 2011. He was named its Academy Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 before launching his MLS career at age 18, inking a Homegrown Player deal with the Dynamo ahead of the 2015 season.
